It took me a bit of effort to purchase an original Surface Pro in February 2013, but I have been using it daily since then as my primary home and commute computer. I skipped the Pro 2, but after reading all the ZDNet coverage I just finished placing my pre-order for an i5 128GB model.
While I still enjoy using my Surface Pro, there are definitely a few areas where it could be improved and it looks like Microsoft addressed all of them with the Surface Pro 3. It looks like I can get about half of what I paid for the Surface Pro back on ebay so I'll be putting my current device up for sale soon.
I have had quite a few people tell me I should just buy a MacBook Air, but as an engineer there are still many apps I need to run in Windows. Yes, I could install Windows on the Air, but I actually really enjoy the Windows 8 experience. I also find the Surface form factor to be perfect for commuting two hours a day on the train and flying around the country on a regular basis.
We all have different preferences and needs, but for me the Microsoft Surface Pro line is now just about perfect. Here are five reasons I decided to make the jump from the original Surface Pro to the Pro 3:
There will be endless debates about the Microsoft Surface Pro strategy and whether or not anyone will buy the devices. I think the range of offerings is quite compelling and reasonably priced for what is provided in such an optimal form factor. I never had an issue with storage capacity or speed on my Surface Pro so that is why I went with the same i5 128GB option this time. I also want to start using it before August and the i5 models are the only ones shipping next month.
After I get some time with my new Surface Pro 3, I will share my experiences as a train commuter and engineer.
Related ZDNet Surface coverage: